The NYT examines the American Idol phenomenon and says the show has gone against all television conventional wisdom by actually seeing an increase in ratings, even though it's currently in its sixth season. To put the ratings in perspective, the program "could lose half its audience and still rank among the top 10 shows on television." Meanwhile, other networks are forced to switch their programs around to not compete with what the chief scheduler for CBS called "the ultimate schoolyard bully." Jeff Zucker, the new chief executive of NBC Universal, gives the most depressing assessment: "I think Idol is the most impactful show in the history of television."